Filing device for reference cards and the like



Aug. 10,1926. 1,595,813

J. B. ARROWOOD FILING DEVICE FOR REFERENCE CARDS AND THE LIKE- Filed Jan. 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /3/ 30 26 wucnfoz Lbfifififlfifi FILING DEVICE FOR REFERENCE CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 4, 1924v 2 Sheets--Sheec 2 Aug m, mm

Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNITE STATES JOHN B. ARROW'OOD, OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

FILING DEVICE FOR REFERENCE CARDS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 4, 1924. Serial No. 684,411.

This invention relates to a device for filing signature or reference cards and the like, and the primary object of the same is to provide such a device wherein all cards or other records will bevisible at all times and which will be expandable and contractible, and whereby the removal of dead cards or record sheets and replacement thereof by new ones can be accomplished with facility.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve filing devices or file means for signature or reference cards or records and render such devices convenient in operation and general manipulation.

lVith these and other objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a filing tray embodying the invention and showing parts of the improvements in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the tray showing the improved features in side elevation;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a tray partially broken away and showing the features of improvement applied thereto;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of a portion of a signature or record card or sheet and improved holding means therefor; and

Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are detail views of parts of the improved card holding means.

The numeral 5 designates a tray, preferably of shallow'depth, having along opposite sides upstanding flanges 6 and at opposite ends upstanding flanges 7 and 7, the top of the tray being fully open to facilitate the insertion of signature or reference cards and the like and render the lattereasily accessible for movement and reading. The general proportions and dimensions of the tray may be modified at will and the upstanding flanges G at the sides, or side closures, have inwardly projecting horizontal guard flanges 8, thereby giving the sides of the tray a reversed L-shaped contour in cross section. The tray will be deep enough to accommodate a number of reference cards and the like.

The tray 5 is preferably disposed horizontally'in a case and operates similarly to a drawer or sliding receptacle with the contents thereof lying horizontally and readily operable for inspection by lifting parts of the same upwardly and also by shifting them in opposite directions in a manner which will be more fully explained.

Within the. tray at a suitable distance from the upstanding end flange 7 is a frame 9 which is shiftable longitudinally of the tray and which has apertured cars 10 struck upwardly therefrom in a plane at right angles on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said frame, the ends of the frame also having upstanding cars 11 with openings 12 extending therethrough. The frame 9 is in the form of a narrow strip of material, preferably metal, and rests against the bottom 13 of the tray in a flat position. Shiftably mounted in the ears 10 are locking rods 14 having on their outer ends cylindrical heads 15 which are movable through the openings 11 in the ears 12. To each rod 14 one end of a spring 16 is secured, said spring being loosely wound around the rod and having its opposite end in engagement with, or secured to, the adjacent ear 10, and on the inner end of each rod is a finger grip 17 The springs 16 on the rods 14 have a tendency at all times to force the outer ends of said rods toward the sides of the tray and bring the outer ends of the heads 15 in frictional contact with the inner surfaces of the sides 6 of the tray, the outer ends of the said heads being reduced slight- 1y as at 18. By simultaneously drawing the finger grips 17 together, the outer ends of the heads 15 are released from frictional engagement with the sides 6 and the frame 10 carrying the rods 14 and other parts as just explained may be shifted longitudinally of the tray and then locked in its adjusted position. The frame 9 with the rods 14 and locking heads 15 is adjusted either towards the end 7 or in the opposite direction in accordance with the number of signature or reference cards disposed in the tray, and this frame with its components serves as a regulating means for the card-carrying units.

In addition to the regulating means just explained the tray will be equipped with a number of frames 19 similar to the frame 9 except in particulars which will be presently explained but each having ears 20 struck upwardly at an angle therefrom at equal distances from its longitudinal center and also upstruck angular ends 21 with openings 22 therethrough, as clearly shown by Fig.5. The frames 19 are, in their main features, similar 'to the frames 9 except that each of the frames 19 has two elongated hinge knuckles or tubes 23 secured to the rear edge thereof and terminating at their inner ends on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the strip or have the inner ends separated a predetermined distance. It is proposed to provide a single frame 9 as a part of the equipment of each tray 5 and a plurality of the frames or strips 19 will be furnished with the tray and adapted to receive and hold signature or reference cards or like devices in fixed relative positions. Each frame or strip 19 is provided with a pair of rods 24 shiftably mounted in the ears 20 and having outer heads 25 and also springs 26 and inner finger grips 27, in all respects similar to the heads 15, springs 16 and finger grips 17 carried by the frame 9. However, the heads 25 of the rods 2st do not have frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of the sides 6 of the tray, said heads 25 serving to holdthe frames or strips 19 and the signature or reference cards carried thereby downwardly in the tray and free for shiftable movement as may be desired. The springs 26 on the rods 24 when the heads 25 are extended under the flanges 8 will have expended their force in an outward direction, or will be slack, in so far as further projection in an outward direction of the heads 25 is concerned, yet the said springs are strong enough to hold the said heads in their normal positions as shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly by Fig. 3. The heads 25 have free sliding movement in the ears 21 at the ends of the frames or strips 19, and when the rod-s 14 are simultaneously drawn toward one another, the heads 25 of each frame or strip will clear the inner edges of the flanges 8 and permit the signature or reference cards or other de vices to be withdrawn from, or applied to, the tray. Numerous devices could be adopted for securely, yet separably, holding the cards or like devices to each frame or strip 19. It is preferred, however, that a hinge frame 28, shown in detail by Fig. 8, be used, said hinge frame comprising a narrow connecting strip 29 with a centrally located elongated hinge knuckle or tube 30 fixed to its rear edge and clamping jaws 3O ex tending forwardly from the oposite extremities of the said strip at right angles to the latter and each comprising an intermediate upstruck 31 and a flat jaw member 32 in advance of the member 31. The rear edge of the strip 29 also has aknuckle member 33 at each end, and each flat jaw member 32 carries an upwardly projecting screw-.

threaded stud or fixed pin 3 1-. Applied over each clamping aw is a movable jaw 35, as shown by Fig. 9, the latter comprising a rear upwardly curved fulcrum member 36 and a forwardly extending flat clamping member with an upturned front edge 38. The flat clamping member 87 has an opening 39 therein to loosely fit over the pin 34, and after each movable jaw is assembled with relation to, or mounted on, its fixed jaw 30, a spring 10 is applied over the stud or pin 34% and secured in place by a nut l1 attached to the upper screw-threaded end of the stud or pin. By this means each movable jaw 35 is given a fulcromed action and is normally held closed by the operation of the spring LO'bearing thereon. Each jaw 35 is rendered advantageously operative by engagement of the fulcrum member 36 thereof with the arched member 31 of the fixed jaw member, both members 36 and 31 being curved in the same are and the member 36 of the movable jaw having an easy riding movement on the member 31 in the opening and closing action of the movable jaw. The hinge frame 28 as a whole and equipped with the parts just explained is connected to the frame 19 by disposing the elongated knuckle 30 between the knuckles 23 and bringing the knuckles 33 against the outer ends of the said knuckles 23 and then connecting the hinge frame 28 by inserting a rod 42 through all of the knuckles. This hinge connection of the frame 28 carrying the clamping jaw components permits the said frame to swing upwardly for convenience in applying and securing the upper edge portions of signature and reference cards or like devices and subsequently to swing back into place, and

this operation is permitted in view of the curved or arched contour of the members 31 and 36, which bridge or clear the rods 2% so that the manipulation of the hinge frame 28 and rods 24c and their heads 25 may be independently effected without interference of one with the other.

In operation the regulator comprising the frame 9 with the rods 141 and heads 18 is moved lengthwise in the tray as may be desired and in accordance with the number of signature or reference cards or other like devices that are adapted to be placed within the tray, and then the said signature or reference cards are secured between the clamping jaws 30 and and disposed in flat position in the tray as shown by Fig. l, the frames 19 being located in the tray at such relative distances apart that there will be an exposure of the same margin at the bottom of each signature card. Moreover,

all of the frames or bars 19 are of the same length and width and the surface of the card is fully exposed through the open top of the tray. At any time desired any one of the cards may be inspected or examined by lifting the card or cards thereabove, and, when found necessary, any of the cards may also be removed and replaced by a new card 'frame to which each reference card is directly attached hinged to the frame 19, each card may be readily raised to permit exposure of the card next below so that the latter may be easily read or inspected. A number of the cards may be simultaneously raised, owing to the hinged attachment thereof, and as a consequence, any card among the group of cards can be quickly reached.

A further advantage of the improved filing device is that the width of each frame 19 automatically fixes the extent of exposure of the bottom portion of each card appearing in sequence, in view of the fact that each frame is disposed to bear against the one adjacent thereto and the frame 19 nearest the regulator frame 9 bears against the latter. This regularity of application of the frame 19 and the uniform exposure of the lower portions of the cards may be easily obtained, and as hereinbefore indicated, the adjustment of the regulator towards the rear end of each tray in accordance with the position of the tray will provide for the use of a comparatively small or large number of the cards in each tray in regular sequence. Moreover, the several trays are adapted to serve as slides or drawers in a case and arranged in superposed relation, so as to be readily accessible. When there are only a few cards in each tray, theregulator will be adjusted nearer the transverse center of the tray, and, in order to inspect or examine the cards, it will only be necessary to partially move the tray or slide outwardly from the casing in which it may be mounted, to obtain the information desired, and thus each slide will be positively supported in the casing.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a filing device of the class specified, a tray having flanged side portions, and record-holding units comprising longitudi nally movable retaining devices engaging the flanged side portions of the tray, the said retaining devices being operable in lateral directions, one reversely to the other, to shifta-bly retain the record-holding units in the tray, the record-holding units having hinged components thereon for separably receiving record cards and the like, the said record-holding units being withdrawable from and applicable to the tray from the top portion of the latter by moving the retaining devices inwardly towards one another for clearing the flanged side portions of the tra 2? In a filing device of the class specified, a tray having an open top portion, a plurality of record-holding units provided with means longitudinally slidable in opposite lateral directions, one reversely to the other, to permit the outer ends of said means to engage and be disengaged from opposite side and the like thereto, and .a regulator shiftably mounted in the tray ahead of the record-holding units to provide a limiting means for mounting the said units inthe tray, said regulator having longitudinally slidable members movable in reverse lateral directions to permit the outer ends thereof to frictionally engage and be disengaged from the opposite sides of the tray.

3. In a filing device of the class specified, a tray having side members with inwardly projecting horizontal flanges at the upper portions thereof, the top of the tray between the inner edges of the flanges being fully open, a regulator having locking devices projecting from its opposite ends and movable longitudinally of said regulator, one reversely to the other, to frictionally bear on the sides of the tray below the said flanges and hold the said regulator in fixed adjusted position in the tray, and record-holding units each comprising retaining devices movable longitudinally thereof, one reversely to the other, to cause their outer ends, when moved apart, to engage the under sides of said flanges and, when moved toward one another, to permit the removal of the recordholding unit from the tray, the record-holding units being held in the positions desired relatively to the longitudinal extent of the tray by the regulator.

l. In a filing device of the class specified, a record-holding unit consisting of a flat frame having retaining devices, slidable longitudinally thereof, one reversely to the other, and a second frame. mounted on and hinged to the said unit and having clamping jaws extending forwardly from the second frame adjacent the opposite extremities thereof.

5. In a filing device of the class specified, a record-holding unit consisting of a fiat frame having retaining devices, slidable longitudinally thereof, one reversely to the other, and a second frame mounted on and hinged to the said unit and provided with clamping means comprising fixed jaw members and movable clamping jaw members c0- operating therewith.

6. In a filing device of the class specified, a record-holding unit consisting of a flat frame having retaining devices, slidable longitudinally thereof, one reversely to the other, and a second frame mounted on and hinged to the said unit and provided with clamping members extending forwardly therefrom and provided with upwardly projecting pins, and spring-actuated clamping members associated with said pins and with said first-named clamping members.

' 7 In a filing device of the class specified,

together in the tray, to partially overlie the unit imediately in advance of said unit, and a regulator having means for frictionally engaging the opposite sides of the tray to hold the said regulator in adjusted position lengthwise of the said tray and to prevent displacement of the record-holding units from a predetermined position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 20 my hand.

JOHN B. ARROVVOOD 

